Container-tab marking machine



J 1943- J. M. HOTHERSALL ETAL CONTAINER-TAB MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 5, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet l ATTogNEYs June 1, 1943.

- J. M. HOTHERSALL EIAL CONTAINERTAB MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 5,1937

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 1, 9 J. M. HOTHERSALL ETAL 2,320,351

CQNTAINER-TAB MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 5, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS June 1, 1943.

J. M. HOTHERSALL ET AL CONTAINER-TAB MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 5, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTOEN EYS June l, 1943. .1. M. HOTHERSALL ETAL CONTAINER-TAB MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 5, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO .5

ATTORNEYS J n 1, 9 3- J.'M. HOTHERSA LL ETAL 2,320,361

I CONTAINER-TAB MARKING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 5, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 3% LE; WM

FROM A souRcE BYM ATTORNEYS Patented June 1, 1943 CONTAINER-TAB MARKING MACHINE John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., and August E. Almgren, Hillside, N. J., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original application November 5,'1937, Serial No.

173,050. Divided and this application December 4, 1941, Serial No. 421,672

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a container or can treating machine and has particular ref erence to devices for imprinting a desired mark on a predetermined portion of a container. This is a division of our parent application Serial Number 173,050, filed November 5, 1937, now Patent No. 2,284,660, issued June 2, 1942.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a can treating machine for preparing a closed but empty milk can with a carrying tab for subsequent filling, by individually feeding the empty cans from a suitable source of supply, shifting the carrying tab into a predetermined position, stamping a desired insignia on the positioned tab, and delivering the marked can into position for filling, all of the operations being correlated to produce the desired results.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View, with parts broken away, of a can treating machine embodying the instant invention, the View also showing a portion of a can filling machine;

-Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a can showing the desired marking on the carrying tab of the can;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the broken line 3-3 in Fig. l, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken substantially "along the horizontal broken line 4-4 in Fig. 3, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the upper portion of the machine, the section being taken substantially along the broken line 5-5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the horizontal line 6-6 in Fig. 5, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical section of a tab marking portion of the machine, the view being taken substantially along the broken line 1-1 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away, a can also being shown in place in the machine;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a can carrying tab lifting device, the view being turned through 180 degrees from that shown in Fig. l and also showing a can in place in the device;

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are longitudinal sections taken substantially along the line 9-9 in Fig. 8, the sections showing the various parts in different positions relative to the upper end of a can, portions of the can in Figs. 10 and 11 being broken back and shown in section;

Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional views of the upper end of a can showing its tab being lifted, the views being taken substantially along the line l2-l2 in Fig. 8;

Figs. 14 and 15 are sectional details of the tab marker as viewed substantially along the respective horizontal lines I l-l4, and l5-|5 in Fig. 7, Fig. 14 also showing cans being operated upon;

Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional details of the tab marker taken substantially along the respective vertical lines 16-16, and ll-ll in Fig. 7, Fig. 17 also showing a can in place in the machine; and

Fig. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the tab marker.

An exemplary form of can which is adapted to be treated and prepared for filling in the machine illustrated in the drawings is fully disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,070, issued July 6, 1937, to John M. Hothersall. Such a can is herein indicated by the letter I) (Fig. 2). The can is preferably made of fibre and. is provided with fibre top and bottom end members. The top end member is formed with a filling and dispensing opening 0 which is disposed at one corner of the can. This opening is adapted to be subsequently closed and sealed, after the can is filled, by a flap or closure element d which is hingedly secured to the top end member.

Th closure element is provided with a plug section e formed to fit into and fill the opening c when the closure element is in can closing position. This closure element is formed integrally with a can lifting or carrying tab 1 'the whole being secured by a staple g to the top end member of the can. The staple is disposed between the closure element and the tab so that they may be hinged upwardly independently. The cans b to be treated in the machine have been preferably sterilized and coated interiorly and exteriorly with a suitable liquid proof, air impervious coating. The filling and dispensing opening 0 has also been closed hermetically by the closure element d and the can is in sterile condition. The carrying tab 1 lies fiat against the top end member.

The cans b to be marked are received from any suitable source of supply in an upright position with the closure element d at the top of the can. The cans are deposited in the path of travel of a pusher F (Fig. l) which is located adjacent a tab raising element G. The pusher advances the can past the tab raising element and places it into a rotatable turret H. This movement past the tab raising element effects a raising or hinging of the tab 1 of the can so that it assumes an inclined position relative to the can end member instead of lying fiat against it.

Now the can is carried intermittently by the turret H through a circular path of travel. During this travel the raised tab 1 is engaged by a marking mechanism J and is dated. The can is advanced into another position where the closure element (1 is lifted by a closure element lifting device and suction cup K. This opens or uncovers the filling opening 0. The opened closure element now is held open while the can is advanced further to a transfer device M which removesit from the turret H and places it into a filling machine N. The closure element openiing device K and the filling machine N form no part of the instant invention. and therefore will be only briefly mentioned.

A can b to be marked is placed in any siutable manner in an upright position on a table 2! (Figs. 1 and 5) secured to aframe 22 which constitutes the main frame of the machine. The can resting on. this table is directly in front of the pusher F and is alongside of and below the tab raising element G. Placing of the can in this position adjacent the tab raising element G actuates the element and shifts it into operating position against the top of the can. Therefore the tab raising element mechanism will be explained before describing any further movement of the can by the pusher F.

The tab raising element G (Figs. 1, 8, 9, and 11) is supported on a pivot pin 24 carried in lugs 25 formed on an upright stop plate 26 of the table 2 A free end 2'! of the element is formed with a wedge shaped blade 28 (see also Figs. 12 and 13). The opposite end of the element car ries a long rod 29 and the outer end of this rod is held under tension by a spring 3!. This is the normally raised position as best shown in Fig. 9.

The rod 2-9 rests against the outer end of a double acting spring barrel 34 comprising a small barrel 35 fitting within a large barrel 36 and confining a compression spring 31 between and within them. The spring 31 is a little heavier and stronger than the spring 31. The larger barrel 35 is disposed in a bore 38 formed in a boss 35 on the stop plate 26 and is retained against displacement from the bore by a pin 41 secured in the boss. The inner end of the pin extends into a slot 42 formed in the large barrel.

The small barrel extends in beyond the face of the stop plate 25 and is retained against displacement from the large barrel by a pin 44. This pin is secured in the large barrel and operates in a slot 45 formed in the small barrel. This construction permits independent sliding movement of the barrels and uses the one spring :common to both.

A can moving toward the tab raising element G while-being placed on the table 2| engages against the protruding end of the small barrel '35. and pushes the double spring barrel 34 outwardly in its bore I95 and hence swings the rod 29 outwardly against the pull of its tension spring 3|. This action rocks the tab raising element G on its pivot pin 24 and brings its wedge shaped 2,32of3e1 blade 28 down on top of the can end in a position adjacent the can carrying tab 1, as best shown in Figs. 8 and 10. The large barrel 36 thereupon is blocked against further movement and the small barrel 35 slides into it, compressing the spring 31 as the can continues to advance into the position of Fig. 11.

This advancement of the can terminates when it strikes the stop plate 26. The can is now directly in front of the pusher F and it is this pusher that next operates to advance the can into the turret H, as hereinbefore mentioned.

The can pusher F (Figs. 1 and 5) is mounted in a guideway 48 in the main frame of the machine and reciprocates transversely of the machine. The pusher is propelled by a link 49 which connects the pusher with the upper end of an arm 5| mounted on a rocker shaft 52 carried in a bracket 53 depending from the machine frame 22. The lower end of another arm 55 also mounted on the rocker shaft carries a cam roller 56 which operates in a cam track 5'! formed in a compound cam 58 on a cam shaft 59 journaled in spaced bearings 6| formed in the machine frame. 4

One end of the cam shaft 59 carries a bevel gear 62 which meshes with and is driven by a bevel gear 63 on a main driving shaft 64 journaled in a pair of spaced bearings 65 formed in the machine frame. The driving shaft is the main shaft of the machine and may be rotated in any suitable manner.

Thus on the forward stroke of the can pusher F, it engages the can b and pushes it forward, this being transversely of the machine. The can is guided by and slides along the stop plate 26. During this transverse advancement of the can the wedge shaped blade 28 of the tab raising element G still seated against the top end member of the can, digs under the outer edge of the can-carrying tab 1 and lifts it into an inclined position, as best shown in Fig. 13.

Continued forward movement of the can pusher F delivers the can into a positioned turret pocket 66 (Fig. l) of the turret H. There are a plurality of such pockets formed in the turret. This turret is disposed adjacent the forward end of travel of the cam pusher F and comprises spaced upper and lower turret discs 51 formed integrally with a central hub 68 (see Fig. 7).

The turret hub 68 is secured on a vertical turret shaft 69 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is carried at its upper end in a bearing H in a projecting bracket section 72 of the machine frame. At its lower end the turret shaft is carried in a bearing 153 formed in a wall section 14 (Figs. 3 and 7) of the machine frame. The lower end of the tur- 'ret shaft extends down below the bearing I3 and carries a geneva disc 15 having a plurality of spaced cam rollers 16 mounted thereon.

The rollers 15 (see Fig. 4) are arranged in a circle adjacent the periphery of the disc 15 and are successively engaged by a cam track 18 (Fig. 3;) of a geneva cam 79 mounted on the continuously rotating drive shaft 64. There is one cam roller 16 for each pocket 66 of the turret H so that as the rotating geneva cam 19 engages a cam roller the turret shaft 69 is revolved through a partial rotation. In this manner the turret is intermittently rotated to bring a pocket 65 into alignment with the can pusher F so that a can may be received therein.

A can received in a pocket of the turret is carried along a circular path of travel through several operating stations as hereinbefore mentioned. During this travel of the can it is supported on the table 2| and is retained in its pocket by a curved guide rail 8| (Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14) which is secured to the table. The extendedend of the table is bolted to a flange 82 which is formed on the turret shaft lower bearing 13.

The first step rotation of the turret H brings the can b into alignment with the marking mechanism J. The marking mechanism includes a movable hollow arm 85 (Figs. 1, 5, 7, 14 and 1-5 which is formed with a short hollow shaft or stem 86 (Fig. 16) carried in a pair of vertical spaced bearings 81 (Fig. '7) of a bracket 88 bolted to the machine frame adjacent the 'path of travel of the can,

The free end of the arm 85 is formed with a stationary wedge shaped jaw 89 having a smooth inclined face 9| (Fig. 17). This end of the arm also carries a movable marking jaw 92 (Fig. 18) which is disposed directly over the stationary jaw 89 and is mounted on a pivot stud 93 threaded into the arm.

The lower face of the marking jaw 92 is inclined for cooperation with the stationary jaw 89 and also carries suitable embossed characters 95 (Fig. 18) formed thereon. In the present instance this embossment preferably indicates a day of the week. The jaw is made readily detachable so that other jaws carrying other characters, such as other days of the week, maybe placed easily in the marker. This provides a means of marking the can with the day of the week on which it was handled, although any other notation may be used if desired.

The upper or movable jaw 52 normally is held separated from the lower or stationary jaw 89 by a compression spring 91 (Fig, 17) which surrounds a pin 98 carried in lugs 99, Itll formed on the sides of the respective jaws. I

The jaws 89, 92 are also preferably heated. For this purpose steam is circudated through the hollow arm 85 and the resulting heat is imparted to the jaws by radiation and conduction. The steam first is introduced into the arm shaft upper bearing 8'! (Fig. 16) which is divided into a steam receiving chamber I85 and a steam discharge chamber Iiifi. These chambers are set off by bearing partition elements I91. The steam enters the receiving chamber I95 by way of an inlet pipe I98 (see also Fig. '7) which is threaded into a cap I99 bolted on top of the bearing 81. This steam pipe leads from any suitable source of steam supply.

Steam passing into the receiving chamber I circulates through a bore II I in the arm shaft 86. through the hollow arm 85 and returns through a bore H2 also formed in the arm shaft. The end of the bore H2 is plugged and return steam escapes into the discharge chamber ")5 through a hole H3 formed in the side of the shaft adjacent the closed end of the bore II2. From the discharge chamber I05 the steam is exhausted to any suitable place of discharge by way of a plurality of holes II 4 (Figs. and 16) formedin the discharge chamber partition. These holes communicate with a clearance space H5 formed in the bearing 81. Steam from this space escapes by Way of a hole H9 formed in the side of the bearing and byway of an outlet pipe H! which is threaded into the bearing.

The steam heated arm 85 periodically is rocked on the arm shaft 86 as an axis to bring the marking jaw 92 and its cooperating stationary jaw 89 into can marking position. This is effected by an arm I2! (Figs. 1, 5, 7, 15 and 16) which is keyed to the arm shaft 86 and which is disposed between in that figure.

the spaced bearings 81. A setscrew I 20 threaded into this arm engages against the shaft and thus retains it in its bearings.

The arm I2I is connected by a link I22 to a similar arm I23 mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft I24 carried in bearings I25 formed in the machine frame. On its lower end the shaft carries an arm I25 having a cam roller I21 which operates in a cam groove I28 of a multiple groove cam I29 mounted on the continuously rotating drive shaft 64.

As a can b in its pocket 56 of the intermittently rotated turret H comes into position under the marking mechanism J the steam heated arm 85 swings from its normal position (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 14) into the full line position shown This swinging movement of the arm is brought about by the cam I29 and the normally separated jaws 89, 92 carried on the arm pass on either side of the raised tab 1 0f the can, the lower or stationary jaw 89 reaching a position under the tab, while the upper or movable jaw is positioned above the tab. While the jaws are thus positioned, the upper jaw is forced down against the tab and the heated embossment 95 on the jaw face is impressed deeply therein. The lower jaw 89 acts as an anvil and supports the tab while under this pressure.

This embossing action is brought about bya toggle device which includes a pressure head I3I (Figs. '7 and 17). The head slides in the lower portion of a vertical guide I32 formed as part of the bracket 88. A pressure regulator member I 33 is disposed in the upper portion of th guide. This member is formed with a stem I34 which extends up through the top of the guide and is provided with locknuts I35 for yieldingly holding the latter in place. A compression spring I38 is interposed between the member and the top of the guide.

The pressure head IEII and the regulator member' I33 each are provided with a pivot pin I38 and these effect a connection with a pair of toggle links I39. The inner ends of the links pivotally are joined with each other and with th inner end of a rod I4I (see also Figs. 1 and 3). The opposite end of the rod is secured to an arm I42 (see also Fig. 5) mounted on a vertical shaft I43. At its lower end the shaft I43 carries an arm I44 having a cam roller I45 which operates in a cam groove I49 of the multiple cam I29. Henc at the proper time the toggle device is actuated, effecting a forcing of the pressure head I3I down against the marking jaw 92 and exerting the required embossing pressure on the tab 7.

During the marking operation the can b' is held firmly in its turret pocket 56 by an angular clamping plate I.5I (Figs. 7, 14 and 1'7) which is swung into position against a corner of the can just prior to the marking operation and which is again swung out of the way at the completion of the marking operation. This clamping plate is formed on the free end of a lever I52 which is carried on a depending stud I 53 secured in a boss I54 projecting down from the top wall section of "he machine frame. Lever I52 is also connected by a link I 56 to a lever arm I5! secured on the vertical shaft I24. Thus as the shaft I24 is rocked to shift the steam heated arm into place, it also swings the clamping plate I5I into position.

p The marking operation i followed by the lifting of the can closure element d to uncover its filling opening 0. This is effected by the can closure element lifting device K (Fig. l) which is located adjacent the marking mechanism J. This lifting device K includes a suction cup I6I formed on an arm extension I62 of 'a curved rack which is operated by a straight rack I63 in the same manner as disclosed in our parent application. This feature forms no part of the instant invention and therefore will not be further explained herein. Movement of the suction cup lifts the closure element at into a vertical position. Upon the next rotation of the turret H the opened closure element is held open by a curved guide rail I65 which extends along the path of travel of the cans. This rail is secured to the bracket extension 12 of the main frame.

On successive step rotations of the turret H,

the can is advanced through a plurality of idle stations and thence brought into position adjacent the transfer device M. This transfer device includes a pair of upper and lower arms I61, I68 (Figs. 1 and '7) which are disposed respectively above and below the turret H. The upper arm I61 is mounted on the lower end of a short pin I1I held in a bearing I12 formed on the bracket 12 of the machine frame. The lower arm I68 is mounted on the upper end of a pin I13 which is concentric with the pin HI and which is carried in a bearing 114 formed in the can support table The outer ends of the arms I61, I63 are formed with extended hubs I16 which are connected by a tie rod I11 which construction insures movement of the arms in unison. A transfer arm I18 is an a integral part of each of these hubs. These transfer arms project inwardly at an angle to the arms I61, I68. It is these transfer arms I18 which effect the transfer of the can when arms I18 are oscillated in unison with the arms I61, I68.

The arms I61, I68, I18 are moved by a lever arm I8I which is carried on the lower arm. pin I13. A link I82 connects the lever arm IBI with a lever I83 which is mounted on a short vertical shaft I84 carried in a bearing I85 formed in the lower wall section 14 of the machine frame.

Shaft I84 also carries an arm I86 (see Fig. 5) which is connected by a link I81 (see also Fig. 6) to the outer end of a lever I88 mounted on a pivot pin I89 carried in a bearing I9I. The bearing de- When the advanced can b comes to rest adjajent the transfer device M, the transfer arms I18 move in behind and engage the can and push it out of its pocket 66 of the turret H. The ends of the can guide rail 8I (Fig. 1), the closure ele-- ment holding rail I65, and a similar curved guide rail I94 bolted on top of the machine frame 22 are shaped for guiding the can from its pocket while holding its closure element at in upright position during the transfer.

The removed can b then may be disposed of in any desired manner. To indicate that it is still under control while being delivered, Fig. 1 shows the can being pushed forward into a pocket I95 of a rotating turret I96 forming a part of the filling or other can handling machine N. The can may be retained in the filler turret pocket by the curved guide rail I94 or in any other manner.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendent advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. In a machine for treating containers having tabs for carrying the containers, the combination of feeding devices for advancing con tainers along a predetermined path of travel, a tab raising element adjacent said path of travel of the containers for arranging the container tabs in a predetermined position, and a marking mechanism adjacent said tab raising element for impressing a desired mark on the arranged tabs of the advancing containers.

2. In a machine for treating containers having tabs for carrying the containers, the combination of feeding devices for advancing containers along a predetermined path of travel, a tab raising element adjacent said path of travel of the containers for lifting the container tabs into a predetermined position, means actuated by the containers as they advance for bringing said tab raising element into operable position adjacent the tabs, and a marking mechanism adjacent said tab raising element for impressing a desired mark on the lifted tabs of the advancing containers.

3. In a machine for treating containers having carrying tabs, the combination of feeding devices for advancing containers along a predetermined path of travel, a tab raising element adjacent said path of travel of the containers for arranging the container tabs in a predetermined raised position, a date marking mechanism adjacent said tab raising element for impressing a desired date on the positioned tabs of the advancing containers, and means for holding the containers in predetermined position while being marked.

4. In a machine for treating containers having carrying tabs, the combination of feeding devices for advancing containers along a predetermined path of travel, a tab raising element adjacent said path of travel of the containers for arranging the container tab in a predetermined marking position, a pair of tab marking jaws,

means operable in time with the advancement of the containers for bringing said marking jaws into position relative to the positioned tabs, and instrumentalities for closing said marking jaws on the tabs so that a desired mark will be impressed thereon.

5. In a machine for treating containers having carrying tabs, the combination of feeding devices for advancing containers along a predetermined path of travel, a tab raising element adjacent said path of travel of the containers for arranging the container tab in a predetermined position, a pair of tab marking jaws, devices for heating said marking jaws, means operable in time with the advancement of the containers for bringing said heated marking jaws into position relative to the positioned tabs, and instrumentalitie fo closing said heated marking jaws on the tabs so that a desired mark will be impressed thereon.

6. In a machine for treating containers having carrying tabs lying flat against a wall of the containers, the combination of a sharp edged blade movable into place against a wall of a container and adjacent its carrying tab for insertion between the container wall and the tab, means for actuating the inserted blade to lift the tab into an angular position relative to the container wall, and a marking mechanism adjacent said blade for impressing a desired mark on the raised tab.

'7. In a machine for treating containers having carrying tabs lying fiat against a wall of the containers, the combination of a sharp edged blade movable into place against a wall of a container and adjacent its carrying tab for insertion between the container wall and the tab, means operable by said container for actuating the inserted blade to lift the tab into an angular position relative to the container wall, and a marking mechanism adjacent said blade, said marking mechanism including a pair of pivoted jaws engageable on both sides of the raised tab for impressing a desired mark on the raised tab.

8. In a machine for treating containers having carrying tabs, the combination of a tab raising element fo arranging a tab into a predetermined raised position on the container, a marking mechanism adjacent said tab raising element and including a fixed anvil jaw and a movable marking jaw mounted adjacent said fixed jaw and readily detachable for replacement with other jaws having other markings for impressing a desired mark on the raised tab of the container.

9. In a machine for treating containers having carrying tabs, the combination of a tab raising element for arranging a tab into a predetermined raised position on the container, a marking mechanism adjacent said tab raising element and including a fixed anvil jaw and a movable marking jaw mounted adjacent said fixed jaw and readily detachable fo replacement with other jaws having other markings for impressing a desired mark on the raised tab of the container, and a heated support for said jaws for heating the jaws while allowing detachment of said movable jaw.

10. In a machine for treating containers having carrying tabs lying flat against a wall of the containers, the combination of a sharp edged blade movable into place against a wall of a container and adjacent its carrying tab for insertion between the container wall and the tab, means operable by said container for actuating the inserted blade to lift the tab into an angular position relative to the container wall, a marking mechanism adjacent said blade, said marking mechanism including a pair of pivoted jaws engageable on both sides of the raised tab for impressing a desired mark on the raised tab, and a swing arm on which said jaws are mounted, said arm being movable relative to the container for swinging said jaws into place one on each side of the raised tab prior to the marking operation and for swinging the jaws away from the container following the marking operation.

11. In a machine for treating containers having tabs for carrying the containers, the combination of a rotatable turret having spaced pockets for receiving and for advancing containers along a predetermined path of travel, a pusher device operating in time with said turret for inserting a container into a pocket of the turret, a tab raising element adjacent said turret for arranging the tabs on the containers in a predetermined position, a marking mechanism adjacent said tab raising element and operating in time with said turret for impressing a desired mark on the arranged tabs of the advancing containers, holding devices also operating in time with said turret for holding a containe against shifting during the marking operation, and discharge means operating in time with the turret for discharging the marked container from the turret to a suitable place of deposit.

JOHN 1V1. HOTHERSALL. AUGUST E. ALMGREN. 

